Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
